Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Wednesday, November 22, 2017

The Jewish Community Center in St. Paul is in the middle of a huge construction addition and remodeling effort that will have expanded space and new areas to enjoy. As typical of any effort like this, part of the space seems disorganized. These life size photos and signs help correct some of the confusion.

My own body has endured similar disarray and confusion since my total knee replacement so I decided that I, too, need some remodeling! Yesterday I started training with a delightful young man in the Fitness Center. Because I am still healing, we are working on my "core" (the term makes me giggle) and upper body. When Dane, my new hero, was introducing me to the machines and adjusting the weights, I apprehensively reminded him that I am a grandmother. His reply? "Yes, but you will be a STRONG grandmother!" How can you not love a young man like that?

Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Sunday, November 12, 2017

During the winter months I often go to the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory in Como Park to feed my soul by viewing the plants and flowers. A favourite spot is The Sunken Garden which has floral displays that are changed seasonally. Scattered throughout the conservatory are memorial benches. I was particularly interested in this one because of my familiarity with the person honoured. (To see photos of the beautiful sunken garden, click on the link above)

Saturday, November 11, 2017

Why we wear poppies

The remembrance poppy was inspired by the World War I poem "In FlandersFields". Its opening lines refer to the many poppies that were the first flowers to grow in the churned-up earth of soldiers' graves in Flanders, a region of Europe that overlies a part of Belgium.

When I was a child, paper poppies were commonplace on people's lapels on Armistice Day, now referred to in the United States as Veterans Day. I saw no-one wearing this commerative flower anywhere I went in the city today so I decided to post my photo to honor all servicemen and women who have served in the military, anywhere in the world.

Wednesday, November 08, 2017

Tuesday, November 07, 2017

When in downtown St. Paul there are two large buildings, the State Capitol and the Cathedral, that can be seen from many vantage points. The Cathedral as shown in these photos can be viewed as an impressive building with a dome in a rather attractive setting but in the other it shows that it's really a part of a busy city. I rather like the one with the traffic signals because it is clear the the church is part of an urban setting … my city, my world.

Monday, November 06, 2017

There are wonderful discoveries to be made along Summit Avenue in St. Paul. One of the homes has this interesting design along the front of their house, which is included on the entrance gate and along the property line of the sidewalk.

Sunday, November 05, 2017

On Friday we got our first light dusting of snow, which did not last long. It created some classic winter scenes in the first light of morning. I posted this photo on Facebook and got enough positive comments that I decided to use it here also. Do you like this quiet scene as much as I?

Saturday, November 04, 2017

Friday, November 03, 2017

I wasn't able to get to El Burrito Mercado on the west side of St. Paul to take photos before I posted yesterday, but here are two I would have shown. I love Halloween, but I love the Mexican celebration of the religious Day of the Dead even better. The ritual of honoring deceased friends and relatives is so positive rather than the absence or even dread, which is the way our culture approaches death in our society.